HFCs (Hansard, 24 May 2000)

§ Mr. Chaytor
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the contribution which replacing HFCs in refrigeration and air conditioning with non-global warming alternative technologies could make in helping the UK reach its Kyoto targets. [122855]

§ Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 23 May 2000]: The recently published draft climate change programme estimates that emissions of HFCs from refrigeration and air conditioning in 2010 will be the equivalent of around 1.6 million tonnes carbon (0.9 per cent. of total UK emissions).
Our new HFC policy sends a clear signal to industry and users that they should look closely at all the alternatives and select those that are more environmentally acceptable where they do exist. Safety, technical feasibility and cost effectiveness also need to be taken into account before investment decisions are taken. At the same time we recognise that HFCs are necessary to replace ozone-depleting substances in some applications, and that HFC emissions reduction strategies should not undermine commitments to phase out ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol.

§ Mr. Chaytor
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is with regard to encouraging the use of non-global warming alternatives to HFCs in refrigeration and air conditioning systems which are commercially available. [122857]

§ Mr. Meacher
The Government policy on the use of alternative refrigerants to HFCs is encompassed in our new longer-term policy on HFCs set out in the recently published draft climate change programme. It states thatHFCs are not a sustainable technology in the long-term but recognises that they are necessary to replace ozone-depleting substances in some applications, and that the HFC emission reduction strategies should not undermine commitments to phase out ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol. HFCs are used in a wide range of applications, and they will continue to be used where they are needed. At the same time our new policy sends a clear signal to industry and users that they should look closely at all the alternatives and to select those that are more environmentally acceptable where they do exist. Safety, technical feasibility and cost effectiveness also need to be taken into account before investment decisions are taken.